China's Agricultural Crisis and Famine of 1959–1961: A Survey and Comparison to Soviet Famines

Abstract

China’s Great Leap Forward (GLF) of 1958–1961 ended as a catastrophe as widespread famine claimed millions of human lives. This paper reviews the literature on this historical crisis. The collapse of grain production was primarily attributable to failures in central planning that diverted agricultural resources to industry and to malnutrition among peasants, which lowered their productivity. The resulting decline in grain availability and the urban bias in China’s food distribution system were the main causes of the famine. This paper also compares China’s experience with the Soviet famines of 1931–1933 and 1947.